Fountain pen



July 27, 1943. F P, MOORE 2,325,069

FOUNTAIN PEN Filed March 2, 1942 1 INVENTOR. f/ecZP //00/6,

Patented July 27, 1943,

FOUNTAIN PE N i fried Pl Moore, Chicago, 111., .assig'nor to Eyerf I sharp lncg Chicago, 11]., a corporation 'of Delaware Application MarchZ; l942ls erial No. 432,914.

1 5 cninis." Cl. 130%4Qi This invention relates to improvem'entsin fountain pens and pertains particularly to-filling: mechanism of the type wherein'a collapsible elasthe purpose of pro'- toprotic tube or sac is used'for ducing the filling suction.

A general purpose of the inventionis vide presser mechanism which is operable by means of a manually minipuiated lever to-com'- press the sac and in which all of; the operating parts, including the lever',- may-;.be'completely assembled in their properrelationshipexteriorly mounted within it as a' of the pen barrel and unit.-

Another object is to provide such an operating mechanism which occupiesbut little space within the pen barrel and which, in its: opera-l tion, does not, subject the'pen barrel to injurious stresses.

resiliency and does not depend in any. degree.

upon the elastic sac to:returnj'it,..and hence does not subject the elastic sac'to any restraint in its the barrel and about which the open end of t'he elastic tubular ink sac i2 is engaged. "The parts:

expanding or ink-inductin'g action. i 1

A particular object is the provision of accomplish thereturn operation-are. effectively hereinafter or will becomera-pparent toione. skilled in the art upon an understanding .of'theinven-x tion or its use in practice. 1

For the purpose of explaini part of this specification, andqhereinafter 'de the iinvention I show in: the accompanying drawing forming a suchs'a" mechanism which may be-manufactured economically and inv which the; resilientwparts which scribe,;one form in .which'it'may' be embodied."

It isto be understood, however, that this is presented for purpose of illustration-only and hence 'is not to .be construed -in any fashion for limiting the appended claims shortof the tru'ea'nd Fig. 1 is a medial 1ongitudina1 section .throiigii a portion of a fountain pen barrel with a filling device embodying my invention installed therein,

the parts being shownin their normal positions; I

Fig. '2 a similar section showing the parts in; the positions which they occupy: at the endof J their sac compressing operationg, y Fig. 3 is a top view of thecompletely: asseme.

shown on considerably larger scale Fig". 5-is a longitudinal sectional view ofthe resilient leafv portion of the device, same-being taken along a line-corresponding to line 5-5.

of Fig. 3 and showingithe leaf in its completed condition prior to connection of itwith other portions of the-mechanism;-and

Fig. 6 is aitransve'rse sectional view on line 6- -6. of Fig. 4 but'on a considerably larger scale.

.An understandingof -the invention will be gainedfrom the following description of the illus trative. embodiments shown in. the drawing,

'The reference numeral lfl designates. thev pen barreland l designates the pen section which is:mounted in the forwardnend of the barrel'and carries the pen pointandthe feed bar through which the ink flows into the reservoir the filling operation and out of the; reservoir in the writing operation. The pen section has a re. duced annular portion Ha which extends into soufar referred tomay be of conventional forms,

and it 'is to be;understoodthat theterm elastic sac as usedy'herein isrmeant to indicate acol-F :ioglapsible elastic :t-ubular member which assumes itsnormal =01. expanded tubular form by virtue a longitudinallyextending slotl 2a through a wall portion thereof, and wlthganwinternal groove or seat -l2 b open ing-into thewbore; of the barrel.

The filling mechanism comprises a pressersa bar I4 formed of thin-material and having rigidity sufficient to prevent any material" extent of bending under pressures adequate to collapse the sac. It is ofsufiicientwidth to sp-anthe greater portionofthe width of the sac and pref' 1 45 erably is arched-0r curved transversely for the- ,purposes of giving it stiffness and conformity tothe curve. of the barrel bore. In its medial POItiOIl'it has-parts struck :upwardly to form a narrow guide spline l5 and an abutment i6.

, and .for azportion of its length extcnding from one end it is narrowed somewhat as indicated atHa. -Adjacent itsrnarrowerend, which I will refer to as the fanchor end, it is'formed: with-r a narrow upstanding lug 11; and inwardly'f'rom :that lugit isffo'rme'd with lateral ears which are bent upwardly and then inwardly at a distance above its upper surface to form retaining elements I8. The lug l1 and retaining elements l8 constitute anchorage members, as hereinafter described. The mechanism also includes a spring leaf l9 formed of thin material having a high degree of resiliency or spring quality. The spring leaf is considerably shorter than the presser bar and may conlorm to it in width and marginal contour and is arched or curved transversely so as to conform to the curvature of the barrel bore, longitudinal section of the spring leaf, its no!- rower end portion corresponding to the narrow end portion of. the presser bar if deflected 60W wardly, as at Mia, and given a set in that form, and at a location corresponding to that of the lug H, the leaf is provided with a medal ebt 20 of size to accommodate the lug l1. At a short distance from its other or free end, the ice! is slotted out to form e medial am it. and a narrow strip 22 o! the severed mm is left connected with the shank of the lea! end is bent upwerob out of the aperture it end doubled back upon ital! to term e hinee ere aeverlsingtbeinnerendneetbnd firemture II, the endportion of this strip bel -It per word the noseendtlm flannel "aromas-dearer reception or the mounting member 19 which is As seen in Fig. 5, which shows a =5 on the mounting member 29.

3.. -i la ion incident against the nose end of the lever, thus tending to hold the lever in its swung-down position, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4,

The operating mechanism being thus cornpletely assembled, it is inserted into the barrel I! through the open end thereof, before the pen section and its attached sac are mounted in the barrel. By means of a suitable tool, the mechanism is moved as a unit longitudinally within the barrel until the lever enters the slot l2a-, whereupon the spring ring snaps into the internal groove lib. Thus the mechanism is assembled in the barrel in the relationship shown in Fig. 1, wherein a portion of the spring leaf IS on theside of the pivot which is away from the anchorage endbears against the wall of the barrel bore, and the presser bar, leaf and lever are he in close overlying association upon one another. The pen section with the attached. sac is then slid longitudinally into the barrel, the sac comic to e politics: such es indicated in Fig.

1 when the pen section reaches its seated posh tion. when so assembled, the presser bar is held in its elevated position and the lever in its swung-down position by the continuously acting sprin we of the tensioned leaf.

To operate the mechanism for the filling of the-pemthetangendotthelevernis engaged by e fingernail and swung outwardly, rotating tin lever is this swung inwardly and, riding on the euriam of the nrener bar, forces the latter downwardly against the elastic sac, thereby elastioeily collapsing the latter. The spring leaf N this morernentby downward flexalmost its entire length, the portions under and beyond tin anchor-ego elements it sharing in the in the form of a slender spring ring er! she to fluion, slid ebments being the instrumentality seat in the barrel groove lb and e metion of which serves as a pintle for connecting the hver 2| to the 1m 19.

The spring leaf is assembled with the preeeer berbypl'acmgitontoptheeeoLmeel-tsnghe mrrower or anchorage end under the retalnhg elements it, and sliding it mummy on the presserber toward the anchorage lug H. In this operation the downwardly deflected tinn of the snringles! is ehsttoaliyfloxed apwardbsothat the leeflsmoduaderepling tenson as it is slid toward the anchorage lug, and as the longitudinal movement of the epeheg lee! is continued, its end rides up the shin; portion of the lug. I! and molly snaps do behindthelug when the smamsm' to receive it... In this fashion the Ice! to Sam.- ly anchored to the presser bar and held in e tensioned condition against the anchorage elements M, with the reeuk'thet the presser bar is 210ml: tripped by swinging it past the dead cenresiliently pressed or stressed upwardly toward the tree end-ol'theleef. Thelmfl'leaesembled with the other pests of the mechanism by placing it astraddlo of the strip I with he flange pierces in alignment with the pivot eye 24, and. then inserting the mounting member or pivot ring 29 throng-h the pierces end eye. The pro-portions of the several parts are such that the nose encho! the beer flanges pace through the aperture ll of the leaf and engage the upper surface of the presser bar II at oppoeite sides of the guide splinet8, end beeeuee of the stressed condition of the spring be! and the cantilever action which it exerts upon the pee:-

whnoby tin flexing pressure is applied to the 1m. The extent at outward swinging movemat o! the lever 18 is limited by" the abutment-- I. and hythe end margin "a of the aperture 2|,- Q the abutment l6 molding a stop for engagement with the web of the lever and the margin 21 a!- ferfi: e stop for engagement by the margins of the lever Ranges 2!. It will be observed that the mom stresses imported to the lever pivot mm curbs! to tin barrel through the mounting mm 1! in such laehion that they are not concomb-ted at looaliud points, thus safeguarding the barrel matarial'aaalustrupture by stresses Iran the pivot.

With the sac collapsed es above described and the parts in the positions imistrated in Fig. 2, wherein the lever is held in its outwardly swung poettion by the pressure of the leaf, the outer end of the pen section is immersed in ink and the to! Milan. I'hempon the stressed leaf draws the presser her away from the me with an instantaneous movement. at the some time snappinsthe lever down completely to its ill-folded position. This completely relieves the sac of restraint from the presser bar and allows it to resume its normal expanded position freely, in

which action it draws ink into the pen. It is to be observed that this mechanism may be emer bar, the. letter; B kept yielllebly main- M5 my be mode very economically be- 'Ihenoseendof' to m it B elastically tensioned.' m m at the leaf is distributed throughout -ployed' in pens in which more than one stroke cause of the relatively small amount ofmaterial 'required, the ease withwhich the parts may be assembled, and the facility of manufacture obtained by complete assembly of the mechanism exteriorly of the pen barrel and the mounting of it in the latter as a unit.

Important advantages are-obtained that the construction permits the useof a spring leaf which is relatively short'and of stiffness such asto effect instantaneousreturn of the parts to normal positions, but at the same time obtains an extensive distribution of the flexing tension throughout substantially the entire length of the leaf, thus avoiding excessive localized flexion which would be conducive to fatigue and crystallization of the material.

What I claim is:

1. Filling mechanism for a fountain pen having a tubular barrel comprising a presser bar, a spring leaf overlying the presser bar and connected at one endthereto, an operating lever by the fact Y hinged on the spring leaf and cooperating with the presser bar to flex the leaf and swing the presser bar away from it when the lever is swung to approximately perpendicular relationship to and removable from the barrel in their assembled condition. 7

2. In a fountain pen having a hollow barrel portion, a filling mechanism comprising a presser bar extending longitudinally in the barrel bore, a spring leaf overlying the presser bar and connected at one end to it and having a portion adjacent its other end bearing against the bore wall of the barrel, and an operating lever hinged on the leaf at a distance from both ends thereof for cooperation with the bar to swing the unconnected portions of the bar and leaf apart against the spring pressure of the leaf.

3. In a sac presser mechanism for fountain pens, a relatively rigid presser bar, a relatively flexible spring leaf overlying the presser bar and connected at one end thereto, said spring leaf being provided with a slot adjacent its other end,

and an operating lever overlying the leaf and hinged thereon adjacent said slot so that one end of said lever may be swung through said slot to press the'presser bar away from the leaf.

4. In a sac presser mechanism for fountain pens, a relatively rigid presser bar, a relatively flexible spring leaf connected at one end thereto so as to overlie the bar and'having a slot at a distance from its connection, andv an operating lever overlying the leaf and hinged thereon with an end portion of the lever projecting through the slot therein, said leaf being tensioned relative to the bar to press them toward each other and hold the bar yieldably pressed against said tance from its connected end, an operating lever overlying the leaf with an end portion in position to be swung through said aperture to flex the leaf and a hinge ring seating in an internal seat in the barrel bore and forming a pintle connecting the lever and leaf in hinged relationship.

7 6. In a presser mechanism for fountain pens,

overlying the leaf and hinged on said eye in position such that. an end portion .ofthe lever may be swung through said opening to press the bar away from the leaf and flexcportions of the leaf away fromjthe bar.

7.; Inia presser mechanism a relatively rigid presser bar, a relatively flexible spring leaf connected at one end to said bar so as to overlie the same closely, said leaf having an opening therethrough at a distance from its connected end and a portion forming a hinge eye located adjacent said opening and above the leaf, and an operating lever overlying the leaf and hinged on said eye in position such that an end portion of the lever may be swung through said opening to press the bar away from the leaf and V flex portions of the leaf away from the bar.

8. In a presser mechanism for fountain pens, a relatively rigid presser bar, a relatively flexible spring leaf connected at one end thereto so as to overlie the bar, said leaf being tensioned so as normally to press its other end toward the bar, and an operating lever overlying the leaf and hinged thereto in position to press portions of the bar away from the leaf when the lever is swung to angular positions relative thereto.

9. In a presser mechanism for fountain pens, a

' relatively rigid presser bar, a relatively flexible ment carried by the bar adjacent one of its ends and engaging a portion of the leaf to hold it close to the bar, and an anchorage member holding the leaf against withdrawal from the retaining member and bar.

11. A presser mechanism for fountain pens as specified in claim 10 and wherein the retaining element and anchorage element are arranged to permit the leaf to be retentively engaged with them bymovement of the leaf longitudinally along the surface of the bar. 7

12. A presser mechanism for fountain pens as specified in claim 10 and wherein the leaf has i a portion arched longitudinally of the bar and held in tensioned condition by the retaining element,

13. In a presser mechanism for fountain pens, a relatively rigid presser bar, a relatively flexible spring leaf overlying the bar and having a por-' tion arched relative thereto in the longitudinal direction, an operating lever hinged on the leaf inoverlying relationship thereto and having an end portion associated with the'bar, and means connecting the leaf at one end to the bar and holding the leaf under tension relative to the bar with said end of the lever pressed against the latter.,

14. An assembled presser mechanism unit for mounting a fountain pen, comprising a relatively rigid presser bar, a relatively flexible spring leaf overlying said bar and connected at one end for fountain pens,

4 amp to, an operating lever overlying the leaf "a'mfi hinged thereto at a distance from its connect'd end and having an end portion arranged far (:0- epemtion wich the bar to press the unconnected of the bar and leaf apart fr meach other against the spring pressure 0f t'h leaf, the: leaf extemfmg for a substantial distance beyond the hinge connection of the lever, and means for maintaining the hinge connection of 10 the lever and leaf in position in the pen barmi.

FRED P. MOORE. 

